Beyond

Chapter 47

Jesse

"There's an attic right above us. I hid there once because my father and I had a disagreement." Payne pointed at the ceiling. "That day was the first time I found out that I could teleport."

"What did you two fight about?"

"He doesn't want to help me find a certain someone."

I looked at him and smiled. "And that certain someone is?" I asked with my brow raised.

He cupped my cheeks and placed his lips on mine. "You," he whispered.

Payne's love for you is clearly beyond what you imagine. Payton's words rang in my head. Is this what he meant? That he would fight for me even if he's against his own blood, his own father? Well, he did go against his own kind by saving me.

"How crazy... But thank you for everything," I said, smiling warmly at him. He smiled back and kissed my forehead.

"Thank you for everything too... I'm very happy that I got to be with you... even just for a while."

"Let's keep moving. You said you have something to show me," I said. Right after those words came out of my mouth, my stomach grumbled.

Payne chuckled. "Let's have some midnight snack in the kitchen first, shall we?"

It was already past midnight, and the servants were already asleep, so Payne and I decided to make some snacks for ourselves. We made a sandwich together, and I sneaked a small bite from time to time since I was hungry.

Being with him inside the kitchen reminded me of when we were alone for two weeks. That was the time when the both of us started opening up to each other and got closer.

Payne served the sandwich on the table. I was about to grab the one on the side, but he touched my wrist, preventing me from taking it. "That one's mine. There's meat on that," Payne said.

I cleared my throat in embarrassment. I forgot that I still haven't told him that I'm not allergic to meat.

"To tell you the truth... I'm actually not allergic to meat. When you first served it to me... since I was afraid of Dusks at that time... I thought it was human meat..." I explained, my voice getting lower and lower as I spoke.

Payne laughed. His laughter lighted up the whole room and became a melody in my ears. "So that's why you reacted like that," he said. I nodded. My face was definitely red, as it was burning from embarrassment. "Have a taste." Payne handed me the sandwich that had a slice of meat on it.

I grabbed a bite, and I stopped chewing midway when I realized that this was probably my last meal in the Dark Empire, but I was glad that it was a food that Payne and I made together.

"It's good. I love it," I said after it passed my throat. I found it hard to eat and enjoy my last meal because I was holding back my tears. I cleared my throat. "...You know, you always care and give me too much. I couldn't help but feel that I'm lacking in showing you my love... Just so you know, I really love you," I said, giving him a smile.

"I know." Payne smiled. "But the 'too much' that you thought isn't exactly the same for me. I believe that you deserve everything in this world. You're everything to me, love... so I don't think the 'too much' is enough."

"..." I was so speechless that I only found myself smiling at his words. It didn't fail to make my heart melt and my stomach flutter.

After a short walk in the garden, a tower appeared.

"The view from up there is great. But I don't think you could see much since it's already past midnight," Payne said, pointing at the tower ahead. He lent his hand. "Let's teleport up there, you might not be able to see the view, but the wind over there is fresh," he said.